Illinois Gaming Board Grants Licenses to Three New Casinos, Expands Gaming Market

Introduction

The Illinois Gaming Board, the government body responsible for regulating gambling in the American state, has announced that three land-based casinos have received licenses to operate in Danville, Carterville, and Chicago. This decision was made at the meeting of the Illinois Gaming Board in the last week of October.

License Extensions

In addition to granting licenses to the new casinos, the Illinois Gaming Board also granted an extension on the existing license of Argosy Casino Alton. This extension allows the casino to continue operating for another four years.

New Casino Licenses

The three casinos that received licenses are Golden Nugget Danville, Walker's Bluff Casino Resort, and Bally's Chicago. Each casino representative had the opportunity to present the highlights of their operations and future plans before the license applications were put to a vote.

Temporary Casino

Bally's Chicago, in addition to receiving a license for its permanent venue, was also granted approval to operate a temporary casino at Medinah Temple for a total of 36 months. This temporary casino will be in operation while the permanent venue is under construction in Chicago.

Growth and Expansion

Marcus D. Fruchter, the Administrator of the Illinois Gaming Board, described the recent period as one of unprecedented growth and expansion. He highlighted that the Board has licensed five new casinos since November 2021, with venues located in Rockford, Waukegan, Danville, Carterville, and Chicago. The Illinois Gaming Board remains committed to ensuring the ethics, compliance, integrity, safety, and transparency of Illinois gaming.

New Video Gaming Rule

The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules has adopted Video Gaming Rule 1800.1750, which requires all operators licensed in Illinois to post responsible gaming signage in all video gaming locations. This rule was previously adopted by the Illinois Gaming Board in April 2023. Casinos and sportsbooks were already required to do this in Illinois.

Study on Undue Economic Concentration

The Illinois Gaming Board has completed a study on undue economic concentration in the video gaming industry in the state. The study, conducted by Christiansen Capital Advisors, will be used by the Board to refine and adapt its regulations to ensure the gaming market in Illinois remains innovative and competitive.

Conclusion

The Illinois Gaming Board's recent announcement of granting licenses to three land-based casinos in Danville, Carterville, and Chicago marks a significant development in the state's gambling industry. With the extension of Argosy Casino Alton's license and the approval for a temporary casino at Medinah Temple, the gaming landscape in Illinois is experiencing unprecedented growth and expansion. The Board's commitment to ethics, compliance, integrity, safety, and transparency ensures a responsible gaming environment. Additionally, the adoption of a new video gaming rule and the completion of a study on undue economic concentration demonstrate the Board's dedication to keeping the gaming market in Illinois innovative and competitive.